Structure and bolt protection apparatus

ABSTRACT

One aspect of the invention is a bolt protection apparatus for use with a bolt inserted into an opening in a piece of lumber. The bolt protection apparatus comprises a first means for preventing at least a portion of the bolt from contacting the sidewall of the opening. The bolt protection apparatus further comprises a second means for assisting in fixing the position of a portion of the first means in the opening.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to construction and more particularlyto a method for building a structure, a structure, and a bolt protectionapparatus for use with treated lumber.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Treated lumber is used in various ways when building homes and otherstructures. In addition, treated lumber is often used for outdoorapplications where ordinary lumber would otherwise be susceptible todamage or destruction by insects. For many years, treated lumber hasincluded arsenic as one of the chemicals used to treat lumber.

Recently, because of concerns over the potential health effects ofarsenic in treated lumber, federal regulations have limited the use ofarsenic. For example, treated lumber containing arsenic generally maynot be used for residential applications. Because the sill plateattached to the foundation of a home is often chosen to be, or requiredto be, treated lumber, the regulation of lumber treated with arsenic hascaused the need for new types of treated lumber to be used.

While a new type of treated lumber has been developed, the chemicalscurrently proposed for use with the treated lumber are corrosive tosteel and some other metals. The corrosiveness of the chemicals in newtypes of treated lumber presents problems for the construction industrywhere there is frequently pressure to reduce costs. While it is believedthat stainless steel anchor bolts, nuts, washers, and other hardware maybe used in construction applications using the new type of treatedlumber, such hardware is much more expensive than traditional steelhardware.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the invention is a bolt protection apparatus for use witha bolt inserted into an opening in a piece of lumber. The boltprotection apparatus comprises a first means for preventing at least aportion of the bolt from contacting the sidewall of the opening. Thebolt protection apparatus further comprises a second means for assistingin fixing the position of a portion of the first means in the opening.

The invention has several important technical advantages. Variousembodiments of the invention may have none, one, some, or all of theseadvantages without departing from the scope of the invention. Theinvention provides a cost-effective way to prevent metal bolts, washers,and/or nuts from contacting treated lumber that may contain chemicalscorrosive to such bolts, washers and/or nuts. The invention may beespecially useful in residential construction applications where atreated lumber sill plate may be affixed to a slab foundation, pier andbeam foundation, or other type of foundation using bolts. In such anapplication, the invention may allow traditional steel hardware to beused for affixing the sill plate to the foundation using a boltprotection apparatus that is inexpensive and easy for constructionworkers to attach.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and theadvantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptionstaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates pieces of a structure that may be created inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of a structure that may be created inaccordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a protective sleeve thatmay be used with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiment of the present invention and its advantages arebest understood by referring to FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawings, likenumerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the variousdrawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of a structure 10 constructed in accordancewith the invention. Structure 10 comprises foundation 12, anchor bolts14, sill plate 16, protective sleeve 18, washer 22, washer 24, and nut26. Other components may be added to structure 10 or some of the abovecomponents omitted without departing from the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates one application of the use of a protective sleeve 18in the context of the building of a structure. Specifically, protectivesleeve 18 may be used to protect anchor bolt 14 from corrosion caused bychemicals in sill plate 16. Here, anchor bolts 14 are used to securesill plate 16 to foundation 12. Foundation 12 may comprise a concreteslab, a plurality of cinder blocks, a plurality of bricks, a pluralityof concrete blocks, a plurality of foam blocks, a pier and beamfoundation, and/or any other type of foundation.

Anchor bolts 14 may be affixed to foundation 12 in any suitable manner.In this embodiment, anchor bolts 14 were inserted into foundation 12(which is a concrete foundation) before the concrete had fully set.Similarly, in foundations that employ blocks, those blocks typicallyhave openings therein which are filled with concrete to provide supportto the foundation. Pier and beam foundations may include beamsconstructed from blocks or concrete forms. In any of these examples,anchor bolts 14 may be inserted into foundation 12 before the relevantconcrete has fully set. Alternatively, in some applications, anchorbolts 14 may be placed into foundation 12 after the concrete has set. Insuch applications, a hole will typically be drilled in foundation 12 toinsert the bolt and the bolt may be held in place, for example, usingepoxy or by mechanical means. For the avoidance of doubt, the term“foundation” is meant to include basements that may be created, forexample, out of cinder blocks with concrete poured into openingstherein.

While in this embodiment, the protective sleeve 18 is used with anchorbolts 14, protective sleeve 18 could be used to protect any type of boltfrom corrosive chemicals used to treat a piece of lumber such as sillplate 16. Moreover, bolts other than anchor bolts 14 could be used toattach sill plate 16 to foundation 12 without departing from the scopeof the invention.

Protective sleeve 18 comprises a generally tubular first portion 19which may prevent at least a portion of anchor bolt 14 from contactingthe side wall of opening 20 in sill plate 16. In this embodiment,opening 20 has a generally circular shape but any shaped opening 20 maybe used without departing from the scope of the invention. Theillustrated circular opening 20 has one continuous sidewall, butopenings of a different shaped cross-section may have multiplesidewalls. In this patent, the term “sidewall” is broadly intended toinclude all sidewalls of any shaped opening 20 where the opening hasmore than one sidewall.

In this embodiment, protective sleeve 18 further comprises a secondportion 21 which may resist movement of first portion 19 in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to opening 20 when protective sleeve 18 isinserted through opening 20. Thus, second portion 21 may assist infixing the position of a portion of the protective sleeve 18 (here aportion of first portion 19) in the opening 20 when the protectivesleeve 18 is inserted therein. For example, second portion 21 may resistupward movement of protective sleeve 18 in opening 20 when inserted asshown in FIG. 1. As discussed below, second portion 21 may also resistdownward movement relative to opening 20 especially when bonded toanother object using an adhesive. In this embodiment, second portion 21of protective sleeve 18 is integrally formed with first portion 19.However, second portion 21 may be a separate piece without departingfrom the scope of the invention. In addition, when second portion 21 ofprotective sleeve 18 is a separate piece, it could be bonded to firstportion 19 or simply placed in contact therewith. In this embodiment,second portion 21 comprises a square washer with a width W of twoinches. The inside diameter D of first portion 19 of protective sleeve18 as well as the inner diameter of an opening in second portion 21 isone half inch. In this embodiment, the length L of protective sleeve 18is three and a quarter inches. This length may be desirable for use witha 2×4 used for sill plate 16. A 2×4 is only one and one half inchesthick typically. Sill plate 16 may be of any dimensions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. For example, 2×6's and 2×10'sare sometimes used in construction applications for sill plate 16.

While specific dimensions have been provided, protective sleeves 18 withdifferent dimensions may also be used without departing from the scopeof the invention. While second portion 21 of protective sleeve 18comprises a square washer, a circular washer or any other shape ofwasher may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. Insome embodiments, second portion 21 may be omitted from protectivesleeve 18 and not used therewith.

In this embodiment, first portion 19 of protective sleeve 18 iscylindrical with a generally circular cross section. However, whilefirst portion 19 of protective sleeve 18 will generally be tubular, thecross section does not necessarily need to be circular and any shapedcross section may be used without departing from the scope of theinvention.

In this embodiment, protective sleeve 18 is made of plastic but could bemade of rubber or some other suitable material. Preferably, protectivesleeve 18 either does not corrode due to contact with chemicals used totreat sill plate 16 or corrodes very slowly due to contact with suchmaterials. When placed over bolt 14, protective sleeve 18 may prevent atleast a portion of bolt 14 from contacting the side wall of opening 20in sill plate 16. Protective sleeve 18 may also prevent the entireportion of anchor bolt 14 which is surrounded by opening 20 fromcontacting the sidewall of opening 20. Thus, protective sleeve 18 mayretard or prevent the corrosion of bolt 14 by preventing bolt 14 fromdirectly contacting sill plate 16.

In this embodiment, a washer 22 may be placed over bolt 14 andprotective sleeve 18. In some embodiments, washer 22 may rest on the topof protective sleeve 18. Washer 22 may be plastic, rubber, or anothersuitable material which either does not corrode or corrodes very slowlyin response to contact with chemicals used to treat sill plate 16. Ametal washer 24 and metal nut 26 may then be used to more tightly affixsill plate 16 to foundation 12 using anchor bolt 14. Washer 22 mayprevent contact between washer 24 and/or nut 26 and sill plate 16 toretard or prevent corrosion of washer 24 and/or nut 26. In someembodiments, washer 24 and/or nut 26 may be made of items other thanmetal.

In some embodiments, either washer 22, washer 24, and/or nut 26 maypress down upon and compress the top surface of protective sleeve 18.Such compression may cause a seal to be created such that the interiorof protective sleeve 18 is substantially sealed off at the top. Wheninstalled on bolt 14, second portion 21 of protective sleeve 18 may beaffixed to foundation 12 and/or to bolt 14 using a suitable adhesive.This may substantially seal the bottom portion of protective sleeve 18.It may also prevent movement of protective sleeve 18 relative to opening20. However, affixing second portion 21 is not necessary for thispurpose.

In this embodiment, washer 22 comprises a square washer. However, anyshaped washer may be used without departing from the scope of theinvention. In addition, one or both of washers 22 and 24 may be omittedwithout departing from the scope of the invention. Additional washersmay also be used.

In this embodiment, protective sleeve 18 is substantially rigid.However, protective sleeve 18 may be flexible without departing from thescope of the invention. In addition, first portion 19 of protectivesleeve 18 is illustrated as a single tubular member in FIG. 1, but couldbe comprised of multiple tubular sections without departing from thescope of the invention. In such embodiments, multiple tubular sectionsmay prevent at least portion of bolt 14 from contacting the sidewall ofopening 20 and sill plate 16.

While FIG. 1 illustrates the use of a protective sleeve 18 in connectionwith the affixing of a sill plate 16 to the foundation 12 of a building,the invention may be used in other applications. Specifically, aprotective sleeve 18 may be used to shield a bolt used to connect apiece of lumber to any other object. For example, the sleeve 18 may beused to protect a bolt that connects multiple pieces of lumber together.In such an embodiment, protective sleeve 18 may have a length Lsufficient that the protective sleeve may pass through an opening inmultiple pieces of lumber. Alternatively, multiple protective sleeves 18could be used, with a different protective sleeve protecting the bolt inan opening in each piece of lumber respectively. Where multipleprotective sleeves are used in joining together two pieces of treatedlumber, it may also be desirable to include a corrosion resistant orcorrosion preventive washer in between the two pieces of lumber at thepoint where the protective sleeves come together. Such a washer may beaffixed to one or both of the protective sleeves using an adhesiveand/or may be integrally formed with one or both tubular members.

Thus, the protective sleeve 18 of the present invention may be used inany application where it is desirable to attach a piece of treatedlumber to another object using a bolt.

To build a structure 10 using the invention, the following steps may beperformed. First, one or more bolts 14 may be affixed to foundation 12.While protective sleeve may be placed on bolts 14 before or afteraffixing bolts 14 to foundation 12, protective sleeves 18 will morecommonly be placed over bolts 14 after bolts 14 have been affixed tofoundation 12.

Protective sleeve 18 may by placed over the protruding end of bolt 14.The protruding end is the end rising out of foundation 12. Wheredesired, an adhesive may be used to affix protective sleeve 18 to bolt14 and/or foundation 12. In some embodiments which contain secondportion 21 of protective sleeve 18, second portion 21 may be affixed tobolt 14 and/or foundation 12 to accomplish affixation of protectivesleeve 18 to bolt 14 and/or foundation 12.

Next, sill plate 16 may be placed on foundation 12 with a combination ofone or more bolts 14 and protective sleeves 18 passing through one ormore openings 20 in sill plate 16. In this embodiment, two bolts eachwith protective sleeves 18 are used to affix sill plate 16 to foundation12. The combination of the bolts 14 and protective sleeves 18 passthrough openings 20 in sill plate 16. While two bolts 14 and protectivesleeves 18 are used in this embodiment, more or less bolts 14 may beused without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, aprotective sleeve 18 may be used with some or all of the bolts 14without departing from the scope of the invention.

Next, washers 22 and 24 may be placed over the protruding end of bolt 14and/or the protruding end of protective sleeve 18. Next, a nut 26 may beattached to the protruding end of bolt 14 and tightened to securelyaffix sill plate 16 foundation 12.

FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of a structure 10 constructed in accordancewith the invention. In FIG. 2, sill plate 16 has been affixed to slab 12using bolts 14 protected by protective sleeves 18. Washer 22, washer 24and nut 26 have been attached to the protruding end of bolt 14 to affixsill plate 16 securely in place. A plurality of studs 28 have beenattached to sill plate 16. The portion of structure 10 illustrated inFIG. 2 may form a portion of the wall of a building or other structure.

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a protective sleeve 30that may be used with the present invention. In this embodiment,protective sleeve 30 comprises a generally tubular structure with aplurality of fins 32.

Protective sleeve 30 again, has a circular cross section. However, anyshaped cross section may be used without departing from the scope of theinvention. In addition, while the illustrated embodiment of protectivesleeve 30 comprises a single tubular member, multiple tubular membersmay be used to create protective sleeve 30 without departing from thescope of the invention. Where multiple tubular members 30 are used, suchtubular members may be affixed to one another with an adhesive or simplyplaced against one another without departing from the scope of theinvention.

Protective sleeve 30 comprises a plurality of fins 32. Fins 32 may beomitted without departing from the scope of the invention. In thisembodiment, protective sleeve 30 may be used with a foundation 12 thatis constructed of concrete. The use of protective sleeve 30 in such anembodiment may be accomplished by sinking the end of protective sleeve30 into the concrete in foundation 12 before the concrete has set. Insuch an embodiment, after bolts 14 have been placed in the concrete 12,protective sleeve 30 may pass over the protruding end of the bolt 14 andprotective sleeve 30 may itself be sunk into the concrete. Fins 32(where included) may provide added stability to protective sleeve 30 andmay facilitate insertion of protective sleeve 30 into the concrete offoundation 12.

Although the present invention has been described in detail, it shouldbe understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can bemade hereto without departing from the sphere and scope of the inventionas defined by the appended claims.

To aid the patent office, and any readers of any patent issued on thisapplication in interpreting the claims appended hereto, applicants wishto note that they do not intend any of the appended claims to invokeparagraph 6 of 35 U.S.C. §112 as it exists on the date of filing hereofunless “means for” or “step for” are used in the particular claim.

1. A bolt protection apparatus for use with a bolt inserted into anopening in a piece of lumber, the bolt protector comprising: a firstmeans for surrounding and preventing at least one portion of the boltfrom contacting the sidewall of the opening; and a second means forassisting in fixing the position of at least a portion of the firstmeans in the opening when the first means surrounds the at least oneportion of the bolt and is inserted in the opening.
 2. The boltprotection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second means is a separatepiece from the first means and is in contact with the first means. 3.The bolt protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second means isintegrally formed with the first means.
 4. The bolt protection apparatusof claim 3, wherein the first means comprises a tubular structure; andwherein the second means comprises a washer-like structure substantiallyperpendicular to the tubular structure and integrally formed therewith.5. The bolt protection apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first meanscomprises a tubular structure; and wherein the second means comprises aplurality of fins integrally formed on the tubular structure.
 6. Thebolt protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first means and secondmeans are constructed from a material that resists corrosion when incontact with the piece of lumber and retards corrosion of the bolt,wherein the bolt is metal.
 7. The bolt protection apparatus of claim 1,wherein the first means and second means are constructed from a materialthat resists corrosion when in contact with the piece of lumber andretards corrosion of the bolt, wherein the bolt is steel.
 8. The boltprotection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first means is constructedfrom a plastic material.
 9. The bolt protection apparatus of claim 1,wherein the first means is substantially rigid.
 10. The bolt protectionapparatus of claim 1, wherein the first means is flexible.
 11. The boltprotection apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first means is constructedfrom a plastic material and is substantially rigid.
 12. The boltprotection apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first means furtherperforms the function of retarding corrosion of the bolt by chemicals inthe piece of lumber.
 13. A method for building a structure, comprising:attaching a plurality of bolts to a building foundation such that afirst end of each bolt protrudes from the foundation; surrounding aportion of a first bolt comprising one of the plurality of bolts with aprotective sleeve; and disposing a piece of lumber and the first boltrelative to one another such that at least a portion of the first boltand at least a portion of the protective sleeve pass through an openingin the piece of lumber and wherein the protective sleeve prevents atleast a portion of the first bolt from contacting the sidewall of theopening.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the foundation is a pier andbeam foundation.
 15. The method of claim 13 wherein the foundation is aslab foundation.
 16. The method of claim 13, further comprising: placinga first washer over the first end of the first bolt after it has passedthrough the opening.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:attaching a nut to the first end of the first bolt.
 18. The method ofclaim 17, wherein the first washer prevents the nut from contacting thepiece of lumber.
 19. The method of claim 16, further comprising: placinga second washer on top of the first washer; attaching a nut to the firstend of the first bolt; and wherein the first washer prevents the secondwasher from contacting the piece of lumber.
 20. The method of claim 13,wherein the piece of lumber comprises chemicals corrosive to steel. 21.The method of claim 16, wherein the piece of lumber comprises chemicalscorrosive to steel.
 22. The method of claim 19, wherein the piece oflumber comprises chemicals corrosive to steel.
 23. The method of claim13, wherein the protective sleeve comprises a generally tubularstructure which prevents any portion of the first bolt from contactingthe sidewall of the opening.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein theprotective sleeve further comprises a washer-like structuresubstantially perpendicular to the tubular structure and integrallyformed therewith.
 25. The method of claim 23, wherein the protectivesleeve further comprises a plurality of fins integrally formed on thetubular structure.
 26. The method of claim 23, wherein the tubularstructure comprises a plurality of tubular segments.
 27. The method ofclaim 24, wherein the protective sleeve is constructed from a plasticmaterial.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the protective sleeveretards corrosion of the first bolt by chemicals in the piece of lumber.29. The method of claim 13, wherein the protective sleeve retardscorrosion of the first bolt by chemicals in the piece of lumber.
 30. Themethod of claim 23, wherein the protective sleeve retards corrosion ofthe first bolt by chemicals in the piece of lumber.
 31. The method ofclaim 23, further comprising: placing a first washer over the first endof the first bolt after it has passed through the opening.
 32. Themethod of claim 31, further comprising: attaching a nut to the first endof the first bolt.
 33. The method of claim 32, wherein the first washerprevents the nut from contacting the piece of lumber.
 34. The method ofclaim 31, further comprising: placing a second washer on top of thefirst washer; attaching a nut to the first end of the first bolt; andwherein the first washer prevents the second washer from contacting thepiece of lumber.
 35. The method of claim 31, wherein the protectivesleeve retards corrosion of the first bolt by chemicals in the piece oflumber.
 36. A building structure, comprising: a foundation; a first boltattached to the foundation with a first end protruding from thefoundation; a protective sleeve surrounding at least a portion of thefirst bolt; a piece of lumber having an opening therein, wherein thepiece of lumber is disposed relative to the first bolt such that atleast a portion of the first bolt and at least a portion of theprotective sleeve pass through an opening in the piece of lumber andwherein the protective sleeve prevents at least a portion of the firstbolt from contacting the sidewall of the opening.
 37. The buildingstructure of claim 36, further comprising: a first washer placed overthe first end of the first bolt after it has passed through the opening.38. The building structure of claim 37, further comprising: a nutattached to the first end of the first bolt.
 39. The building structureof claim 38, wherein the first washer prevents the nut from contactingthe piece of lumber.
 40. The building structure of claim 37, furthercomprising: a second washer placed on top of the first washer; a nutattached to the first end of the first bolt; and wherein the firstwasher prevents the second washer from contacting the piece of lumber.41. The building structure of claim 36, wherein the piece of lumbercomprises chemicals corrosive to steel.
 42. The method of claim 37,wherein the piece of lumber comprises chemicals corrosive to steel. 43.The method of claim 40, wherein the piece of lumber comprises chemicalscorrosive to steel.
 44. The building structure of claim 36, wherein theprotective sleeve comprises a generally tubular structure which preventsany portion of the first bolt from contacting the sidewall of theopening.
 45. The building structure of claim 44, wherein the protectivesleeve further comprises a washer-like structure substantiallyperpendicular to the tubular structure and integrally formed therewith.46. The building structure of claim 44, wherein the protective sleevefurther comprises a plurality of fins integrally formed on the tubularstructure.
 47. The building structure of claim 44, wherein the tubularstructure comprises a plurality of tubular segments.
 48. The buildingstructure of claim 45, wherein the protective sleeve is constructed froma plastic material.
 49. The building structure of claim 48, wherein theprotective sleeve retards corrosion of the first bolt by chemicals inthe piece of lumber.
 50. The building structure of claim 36, wherein theprotective sleeve retards corrosion of the first bolt by chemicals inthe piece of lumber.
 51. The building structure of claim 44, wherein theprotective sleeve retards corrosion of the first bolt by chemicals inthe piece of lumber.
 52. The building structure of claim 44, furthercomprising: a first washer placed over the first end of the first boltafter it has passed through the opening.
 53. The building structure ofclaim 52, further comprising: a nut attached to the first end of thefirst bolt.
 54. The building structure of claim 53, wherein the firstwasher prevents the nut from contacting the piece of lumber.
 55. Thebuilding structure of claim 52, further comprising: a second washerplaced on top of the first washer; a nut attached to the first end ofthe first bolt; and wherein the first washer prevents the second washerfrom contacting the piece of lumber.
 56. The building structure of claim52, wherein the protective sleeve retards corrosion of the first bolt bychemicals in the piece of lumber.
 57. An apparatus, comprising: anobject; a first bolt having a first end; a protective sleeve surroundingat least a portion of the first bolt; a piece of lumber attached to theobject, wherein the piece of lumber is attached to the object using thefirst bolt wherein the piece of lumber is disposed relative to the firstbolt such that at least a portion of the first bolt and at least aportion of the protective sleeve pass through an opening in the piece oflumber and wherein the protective sleeve prevents at least a portion ofthe first bolt from contacting the sidewall of the opening.
 58. Theapparatus of claim 57, wherein the object comprises a second piece oflumber.
 59. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the object comprises abuilding foundation.
 60. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein theprotective sleeve comprises a generally tubular structure which preventsany portion of the first bolt from contacting the sidewall of theopening.
 61. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the protective sleevefurther comprises a washer-like structure substantially perpendicular tothe tubular structure and integrally formed therewith.
 62. The apparatusof claim 60, wherein the protective sleeve further comprises a pluralityof fins integrally formed on the tubular structure.
 63. The apparatus ofclaim 60, wherein the tubular structure comprises a plurality of tubularsegments.
 64. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the protective sleeveis constructed from a plastic material.
 65. The apparatus of claim 64,wherein the protective sleeve retards corrosion of the first bolt bychemicals in the piece of lumber.
 66. The apparatus of claim 57, whereinthe protective sleeve retards corrosion of the first bolt by chemicalsin the piece of lumber.
 67. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein theprotective sleeve retards corrosion of the first bolt by chemicals inthe piece of lumber.
 68. The apparatus of claim 60, further comprising:a first washer placed over the first end of the first bolt after it haspassed through the opening.
 69. The apparatus of claim 68, furthercomprising: a nut attached to the first end of the first bolt.
 70. Theapparatus of claim 69, wherein the first washer prevents the nut fromcontacting the piece of lumber.
 71. The apparatus of claim 68, furthercomprising: a second washer placed on top of the first washer; a nutattached to the first end of the first bolt; and wherein the firstwasher prevents the second washer from contacting the piece of lumber.72. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the protective sleeve retardscorrosion of the first bolt by chemicals in the piece of lumber.